Posted on 09/14/2014 11:45:13 AM PDT by Whenifhow
This weekend marks the 200th anniversary of the writing of “The Star-Spangled Banner.” Over the years, many debates have surrounded the national anthem — involving its meaning, its quality and the circumstances under which Francis Scott Key came to write it. Before you hear “Oh say, can you see” at the next ballgame or school assembly, make sure you’ve dispelled these myths first.
1. ‘The Star-Spangled Banner’ was written about an insignificant battle in an insignificant war.
The nation’s future was at stake in 1814, with the US on the brink of defeat in the third year of the War of 1812, a conflict with Britain that would determine the future of the North America. The battle for Baltimore took place three weeks after the British captured Washington , leaving the Capitol, the White House and virtually every other federal building a smoking ruin.
With President Madison’s government on the run, the U.S. treasury bankrupt and British forces preparing an attack from Canada to sever New England from the rest of the country, there was widespread fear that another defeat could force the collapse of the government and the dissolution of the Union.
Yet the US escaped disaster largely because the repulse of the British at Baltimore and the concurrent U.S. victory at Lake Champlain forced Britain to drop harsh peace terms. For many Americans, this second war of independence created a feeling of national unity that had not truly existed — a fitting moment for the nation’s anthem to emerge.
2. The anthem is a celebration of war.
3. Key was too far from Fort McHenry to see anything, let alone the flag.
4. We should make ‘America the Beautiful’ our anthem.
5. The flag flying over Fort McHenry during the bombardment is on display at the Smithsonian.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
Didn't do them quite enough good, but—and this feels very strange to be saying with Maryland—Go Big 10.
Thought it was significant and uplifting because of the football team in Arkansas that had to removed the crosses on helmets for lost team-mates.
There are many videos of American sporting events where all four verses are song. People are confused at first. Then pissed. Then curious. Then they cheer like never before.
It’s very interesting to watch.
Only a drunk, a coloratura, or a castrato would want to sing the range of a twelfth, and the castrati had gone out of fashion when opera switched from Handel to Cherubini and Mozart (which I think was a good thing, but that's a separate issue).
One of the reasons the late Whitney Houston was able to pull it off so effectively was that she had stretched her mezzo voice down to low Bb, essentially contralto range, and then was able to seamlessly switch to falsetto for the high Eb and F; lots of Houston wannabes have tried since, but no one has pulled it off as well IMHO.
Imagine this played to a video of a landscape of rioting, ISSI beheadings, out of work lines, bums on the street, everything that is Wrong With American under Obama.
“God Bless America” would really drive them crazy.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f9_bP219ehQ
This is at a tea party gathering. Loved it. He said 2nd verse, but I believe it is the 4th.
Ahh, the annual, “who does the best rendition of the Star Spangled Banner” thread.
And once again, the winner is:
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=QKCVS57j284
Outstanding!
They did a great job!
I put my post in as it is a verse that people normally do not hear and has a Christian message.
Love Madison Rising’s version also.
BTW, listened to them sing Amazing Grace also. Great Job!
WOW!!!!
#. The first verse does NOT translate to-
“O, Jose, can you see? [Si!]”
There was a very good program this morning on C-SPAN3 (American History channel) about the Battle of Plattsburgh on Sept. 11, 1814. According to the speaker, the British were hoping to drive all the way to New York City and the invasion force greatly outnumbered the defenders in Plattsburgh. It was the naval battle in Lake Champlain nearby that decided the issue and caused the British to return to Canada. If the invasion had fared better the British intended to demand in the peace treaty that the US give up its territory north of the 43rd parallel (which would mean Maine, most of New Hampshire and Vermont, and a large part of upstate New York.
No, it’s “Hosea, can you see?”
Well, now. Per Facebook's new rules, don't you think you should alert people that the Onion is a satire site?
Some poor FReeper might take that video seriously and have a heart attack!
/s
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